Squeeze bottle and dispensing cap therefor



Oct. 7, 1969 L. A. MICALLEF Filed Jan. 8, 1968 SQUEEZE BOTTLE ANDDISPENSING CAP THEREFOR .2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I". I I I 66 29 Fl G.Z Z0\'/6 3 '76 /0 /4 32 If? I FIG. 1'

lNVEjNTQR laws ,4. M 640. 'F

D c I a I" 54 724% ATTORNEYS United States Patent York Filed Jan. 8,1968, Ser. No. 696,213 Int. Cl. B67d 3/00 US. Cl. 222-519 9 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A container having a neck defining an openinginto the container interior and a one-piece closure therefor which ismounted to the neck and adapted to be shifted from a first position atwhich the top of the neck sealingly engages portions of the closure soas to completely seal the container interior to a second position atwhich the contents of the container may be conveniently removed througha defined passageway extending through the closure. The closure includesa top portion adapted to cover the container opening and to cooperatewith the neck in sealing the container, a first apron depending from thetop portion and adapted to sealingly engage the exterior surfaces of theneck, a second apron depending from the top and adapted to sealinglyengage the interior surfaces of the neck, passageway defining surfacesextending through the first and second aprons to the closure exterior,and means to limit the displacement of the closure along the containerneck between the first and second positions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Certain liquid products, particularlycosmetic liquids are often merchandised in containers provided withdispensers adapted to dispense small quantities. These dispensers may beactivated in several ways and include the familiar squeeze bottles andaerosol or spray cans. One common type of dispenser containerincorporates a closure adapted to seal a relatively large opening intothe container interior and having a mall opening or pouring spoutextending through which small amounts of the containers contents mayconveniently be removed. Such containers may readily and easily befilled by the merchandiser through the large opening and mayconveniently be emptied by the ultimate consumer through the pouringspout with a minimum of waste due to spillage.

In the design of closures of the type described above, several criteriamust be observed. First of all, there must be adequate sealing betweenthe closure and container walls to prevent the product from leaking outand also to prevent the aerosol or air from bleeding past the closureand thereby preventing the dispenser from properly operating. Inaddition, there should be means provided for sealing the pour spout whenthe container is not in use so that the containers contents will beprotected from outside contamination.

Heretofore, such closures were formed of several parts and, as a resultwere relatively expensive to manufacture and purchase. Thus, it is theprincipal object of the present invention to provide a dispensingcontainer and a one-piece integral closure therefor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, thisand other objects and advantages are obtained by providing a containerof the type having a protruding threaded neck defining an opening intothe container interior with a threaded closure. The closure is mountedand secured to the neck in a fashion that permits it to be shifted froma. first position at which the top of the neck snugly seats ice againstthe underside of the closure top to a second position wherein someclearance is maintained between the underside of the closure top and thetop of the neck. The closure includes two cylindrical aprons dependingfrom the underside of the top. The outer apron forms the outside wall ofthe closure and is adapted to sealingly engage the outer surfaces of theneck. The inner apron is concentric with the outside wall and is adaptedto sealingly engage the inner surface of the neck. Both aprons havealigned openings therein positioned close to the closure top that form apassageway through the closure connecting its internal cavity with theoutside. Thus, when the closure is on the container in the firstposition, the neck of the container is in position to seal thepassageway through the closure. However, when when the closure isunseated and displaced along the neck to the second position, thecontainer contents may flow past the clearance between the neck andunderside of the closure top and through the closure by means of theopenings in the aprons to the outside. Thus, when the closure is in thesecond position, part or all of the containers contents may be emptiedthrough the relatively small opening in the closure side wall.

The present invention further contemplates the use of limiting means inthe form of an inwardly directed projection on the inner surface of theclosure side wall and an outwardly directed projection on the outersurface of the container neck which cooperate to limit the displacementof the closure between the first and second positions. In this regard,the closure projection is caused to override the neck projection whenthe container is initially closed and the placement and dimensions ofthe projections are such as to cause interference between the two whenthe closure is displaced along the neck a predetermined distance,thereby preventing further displacement. In this manner, thedisplacement of the closure is conveniently limited to the first andsecond positions and, unless an extreme force is applied tothe closure,the user of the container is prevented from completely removing theclosure from the container, may only remove the containers contentsthrough the pour spout and may only do this when the closure is properlypositioned on the neck.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a container and closure inaccordance with the present invention, the first and second positionsthat the closure may assume are depicted in solid and broken linesrespectively;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side elevational sectional view depicting theclosure seated on the neck in a completely sealing position;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 which depicts the closure afterit has been shifted to an operative position wherein the containerscontents may be emptied through the closure passageway;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational sectional fragmentary exploded view ofthe container and closure of the present invention; and

FIGURE 5 is a bottom plan view of the closure of FIGURE 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawingsand in particular to FIGURE 1 wherein a container 10 and a closure 12produced in accordance with the present invention are depicted. Thecontainer described in this preferred embodiment is of the squeezebottle type and hence is formed of an elastomeric, easily deformablematerial such as rubber or plastic. The top 14 of the container isprovided with a neck 16 extending away from the container body anddefining an opening into the container interior. The neck 16 is anelongated substantially cylindrical member having a thread 18 and firstand second circumferential projections 20 and 22 disposed about itsouter surface. Projection 20 is positioned above thread 18 and its outeredge 24 extends beyond the inner surface of the neck a distance lessthan the crest of thread 18. Projection 22 is positioned below thread 18and its outer edge 24 extends somewhat beyond the crest of thread 18.The container may be produced in accordance with any of many wellknownmolding techniques.

Reference is now made to the closure 12 which is depicted separately inFIGURE 4 and in combination with the container in FIGURES 2 and 3. Inthe former, the closure is depicted in the closed position while in thelatter, the closure is depicted in the open position. Closure 12includes a top portion 26 adapted to seat over the opening defined bythe container neck 16 and to entirely cover the same. A firstcylindrical sleeve or apron 28 depends downwardly from the top portion26 and forms the outside wall of the closure. In the depicted embodimentthe outer surface 29 of the closure tapers downwardly and inwardly foresthetic appeal and the inner surfaces 30 of the apron 28 includes alower portion of increased internal diameter 32 and an upper portion ofreduced internal diameter 34. The upper and lower portions are separatedby the circumferential shoulder 36. A thread 38, complementary to andadapted to engage thread 18 of the container, is disposed about theinternal surfaces of the upper portion 34 of the closure. Of course,other means for releasably retaining the closure on the neck of thebottle may be employed. The internal diameter of the upper portion 34 issuch as to interfere slightly but sufficiently to form a seal with a topprojection 20 disposed about neck 16 when the closure is positioned onthe container. This relationship is most clearly seen in FIGURES 2 and3.

An inwardly directed projection 40 circumscribes the lower portion ofclosure 12. The forward edge 42 of projection 40 extends beyond theouter edge of projection 22 on the container and the two projectionsjointly serve to limit the displacement of the closure along the neck byinterfering with each other. Thus, once the projection 40 on the closureis initially caused to override projection 22 on the neck, thedisplacement of the closure will be limited to a position intermediatethe extreme positions depicted in FIGURES 2 and 3. In this regard, itshould be apparent that either the closure or container or both must besufliciently flexible and deformable to permit such overriding to occurwhen an extreme torque is applied to the closure, however, at the sametime it must be sufiiciently rigid to prevent such overriding duringnormal usage. In FIG- URE 2, the closure is prevented from proceedingfurther along the neck in a downwardly direction by the interactionbetween the top of the neck 44 and the underside 46 of the closure top26. The other extreme is depicted in FIGURE 3 wherein the closure isprevented from further movement in an upwardly direction by theinteraction of projections 22 and 40 on the container and closurerespectively.

An inner cylindrical apron 48 concentric with and radially spaced apartfrom apron 28 a distance substantially equal to the thickness of thecontainer neck 16 also depends downwardly from the underside 46 ofclosure top 26. The base of apron 48 includes an outwardly directedprojection 50 adapted to substantially abut against the inner surface 52of neck 16 thereby sealing the containers contents.

Aligned bores 54 and 56 are provided passing through the uppermostportions of the outer apron 28 and inner apron 48 and cooperate informing a passageway 60 connecting the closures interior cavity with theoutside and through which the contents of the container may convenientlybe removed in a manner to be described forthwith.

. 4 In this regard, a pouring spout 58 is provided in th form of ahollow tube which protrudes from the outside wall of the closure and isdesigned to direct the flow of products removed from the container. Thebore of the hollow tube 58 is aligned with the openings 54 and 56passing through the closure aprons 28 and 48.

A third apron 62 concentric with aprons 28 and 48 also dependsdownwardly from the underside 46 of the closure 26. Apron 62 is designedto support and secure a dip tube 64 in the container 10 in the eventthat the product contained within the container requires such a tube.Such would be the case, for example, wherever it is undesirable to havethe consumer invert the container or where the contents of the containerare adapted to be pressurized or maintained under pressure. The internaldiameter of apron 62 is substantially equal to the outside diameter ofdip tube 64 so that frictional forces will'secure the tube within theapron. An inwardly directed projection 66, the forward edge of whichsubstantially corresponds to the inner surface of the dip tube isprovided on the inner face of apron 62 at a level corresponding to thelower surface defining passageway 60. Projection 66 serves to preventthe tube from accidentally slipping into the passageway and therebyblocking the same and preventing the dispensing of the containerscontents.

In use, after the container is initially filled, the closure may beplaced in position to completely seal the containers contents byscrewing the same down to the position depicted in FIGURE 2. It shouldbe noted that when the closure is in this position the top of neck 44will seat against the underside 46 of the cover portion of the closureat the same time that the upper portion of the neck 16 blocks thepassageway 60 extending through the closure, thereby completely sealingthe container. When the consumer desires to dispense some quantity ofthe containers contents, all that is required is to shift the closure tothe position depicted in FIGURE 3. This may easily be done by unscrewingthe closure until projections 40 and 22 on the closure and neck engageone another thereby preventing further normal unscrewing. This willcause the neck to unseat from the underside of the closure and at thesame time will free passageway 60 so that the containers contents may beremoved such as by squeezing the squeeze bottle of the preferredembodiment. In this regard, it will readily be appreciated by oneskilled in the art that the seal provided by projection or lip 50 willprevent air from bleeding past the closure to hamper dispensing of thecontents. Seal 20 on the other hand will prevent leakage of thecontainers contents downwardly between the closure and container neckover the extension of the container and/or the consumers hands. It willalso be readily appreciated that by making the relative displacementbetween projections 40 and 22 on the closure and cap respectively, adistance apart at least as great as the vertical dimension of thepassageway 60, the user of the container will be insured an unobstructedpassageway when the closure is shifted to the position of FIGURE 3.

I claim:

1. In combination a container having a cylindrical neck extending fromthe container and defining an opening into the container interior and aone-piece closure adapted to be mounted and secured to said neck and tobe shifted along said neck from a first position at which the top ofsaid neck sealingly engages portions of said closure so as to completelyseal the container interior to a second position at which the contentsof the container may be removed through a defined passageway extendingthrough said closure; said closure including a top portion adapted tocover said container opening; a first outer apron depending from saidtop portion and adapted to engage the exterior surfaces of saidcontainer neck and cooperate therewith in defining a seal between theinterior of the outer apron and the exterior surfaces of the neck; asecond inner apron concentric with said first apron and having portionsthereon adapted to sealingly engage the inner surfaces of said neck;sealing means on the second apron for providing a seal between thesecond apron and the inner surfaces of the neck and means adapted tolimit the longitudinal displacement of said closure along said neckbetween said first and second positions; said outer and inner apronsinclude surfaces thereon defining said passageway from the containerexterior to the container interior; said closure further comprising adip tube socket integrally molded thereon and adapted to secure a tubein position to extend into the container interior when said closure isaffixed to said container, said socket comprising a third aprondepending from said closure concentric with and internally of saidsecond apron and having surfaces thereon defining an opening incommunication with the passageway through the closure; and said closurefurther comprising a hollow protuberance extending outwardly from theexterior surface of said outer apron, the bore of said protuberancebeing in communication with the passageway through said closure wherebyto form a pour spout through which the contents of the container may beremoved.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the exterior surfaceof said container neck and the interior surface of said closure outerapron includes mating threads disposed upon portions thereof, and saidlimiting means includes an inwardly directed projection on said closureouter apron adapted to interferingly engage an outwardly directedprojection on said neck exterior, said projections being relativelydisposed upon said closure and neck so as to prevent furtherdisengagement of said closure from said container after said closure hasbeen displaced along said neck a distance substantially equal to thelongitudinal dimension of the passageway defining surfaces.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the outer surface ofthe inner apron includes an outward- 1y directed circumferentialprojection thereon defining said sealing means, the outer edge of saidprojection being adapted to sealingly engage the inner surface of saidcontainer neck.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the outer surface ofthe container neck includes an outward- 1y directed circumferentialprojection thereon defining the seal, the outer edge of said projectionbeing adapted to sealingly engage the inner surface of said closureouter apron whereby to prevent the bleeding of the containers contentsbetween said neck and outer apron.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said socket furthercomprises inwardly projecting stop means disposed upon the inner surfaceof said third apron below said opening defining surfaces, whereby thedip tube which is to be secured in said socket is prevented fromextending beyond the passageway and thereby blocking access to the same.

6. A closure for use with a container having a cylindrical neckextending from the container and defining an opening into the containerinterior and adapted to be shifted along said neck from a first positionat which the top of said neck sealingly engages portions of said closureso as to completely seal the container interior to a second position atwhich the contents of the container may be removed through a definedpassageway extending through said closure including: a top portionadapted to cover said container opening; a first outer apron dependingfrom said top portion and adapted to engage the exterior surfaces ofsaid container neck and cooperate therewith and defining a seal betweenthe interior of the outer apron and the exterior surfaces of the neck; asecond inner apron concentric with said first apron and having portionsthereon adapted to sealingly engage the inner surfaces of said containerneck; sealingly means on the second apron for providing a seal betweenthe second apron and the inner surfaces of said neck; means to limit thelongitudinal displacement of said closure along said neck between saidfirst and second positions; and said outer and inner aprons includesurfaces thereon defining said passageway extending through saidclosure; said closure further comprising a dip tube socket integrallymolded thereon and adapted to secure a tube in position to extend intothe container interior when said closure is afiixed to said container,said socket comprising a third apron depending from said closureconcentric with and internally of said second apron and having surfacesthereon defining an opening in communication with the passageway throughthe closure; and said closure further comprising a hollow protuberanceextending outwardly from the exterior surface of said outer apron, thebore of said protuberance being in communication with the passagewaythrough said closure whereby to form a pour spout through which thecontents of the container may be removed.

7. The closure as described in claim 6 wherein the interior surface ofsaid closure outer apron includes threads disposed upon portions thereofadapted to engage mating threads disposed upon portions of saidcontainer neck and said limiting means includes an inwardly directedprojection on said closure outer apron adapted to interferingly engagean outwardly directed projection on the neck exterior, said projectionsbeing relatively disposed upon said closure and neck so as to preventfurther disengagement of said closure from said container after saidclosure has been displaced along said neck a distance substantiallyequal to the longitudinal dimension of the passageway defining surfacesextending through said closure.

8. The closure as defined in claim 6 wherein the outer surface of theinner apron includes an outwardly directed circumferential projectionthereon defining the sealing means, the outer edge of said projectionbeing adapted to sealingly engage the inner surface of said containerneck.

9. The closure as defined in claim 6 wherein said socket furthercomprises inwardly projecting stop means disposed upon the inner surfaceof said third apron below said opening defining surfaces and adapted toprevent the dip tube which is to be supported in said socket fromextending beyond the opening and thereby blocking access to thepassageway extending through the closure to the containers contents.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,055,819 9/ 1936 Georger 2225 193,255,934 6/ 1966 Leonard 222211 3,261,513 7/1966 Moran 2225 19 STANLEYH. TOLLBERG, Primary Examiner

